The hybrid ticking time bomb

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by S Keith

Any rumors that Toyota is discontinuing manufacture or sale of batteries fails every logic test.

Thanks for the info! I had no idea of the history or current situation for Toyota NiMh batteries except that there may be supply chain issues or something.

All I know is I went to check the current price of an OEM HV battery for my Prius on parts.Toyota.com and say the batteries marked as "No longer available." Knowing the gen 3 batteries has basically the same modules I also looked up a couple years of gen 3 Prii and also saw them marked as "No longer available." Of course that doesn't mean that it could be from supply shortages or something, as I'm no expert on what's actually happening.

2006 Toyota Prius Hatchback Battery assembly hv supply. Electrical, wiring, cable - G951047031 - Genuine Toyota Part

[Isaac Zachary]

Maybe the reason not all cars are hybrids is because not all cars are Toyotas?

[GrayRaceCat]

Originally Posted by Nathan jones

You can get new cells. Easy and cheap to replace.

At the link you provided, they're not exactly low cost, 28 modules are $1,986.88 US plus Taxes, Shipping. (and Labor, unless you install them yourself) (price - Aug 19, 2022)

[Nathan jones]

It's very low cost. Mine are 18 years old and run like new. Happily pay 2k for another 25 years. You could buy a cheaper type car, a second hand vw or Audi could be bought for less than a battery eh?

Why do you think Toyota don't supply anymore?

They're in the car selling business not helping the race cat guy get to work business

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by GrayRaceCat

At the link you provided, they're not exactly low cost, 28 modules are $1,986.88 US plus Taxes, Shipping. (and Labor, unless you install them yourself) (price - Aug 19, 2022)

Umm compared to a new Tesla replacement pack (or pretty much anything) that IS cheap

[Isaac Zachary]

Compared to a car that might need a $100 12V battery and and oil change, $2,000 plus labor for a battery is expensive.

[Piotrsko]

And 5.19 @ gallon of gas gets beaten by about $2.00 electricity slow charge , too

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

And 5.19 @ gallon of gas gets beaten by about $2.00 electricity slow charge , too

Having a gas station along every 30 miles also beats 197 miles between charging stations along the same route through snowy, freezing cold weather that I have personally experienced takes more than 50% of the range off a BEV.

The question is, what kind of car is a cheap person like me or someone getting their first car on a minimum-wage, part-time job most likely going to be able to afford? An old hybrid in need of a $2,000 battery? A +$20,000 used EV? Or a $500 beater that needs a $200 gasket kit and $100 mill job to the head plus maybe a radiator, motor mount or a couple hoses?

[Isaac Zachary]

Of course another thing to factor in is inflation. Back when I was going to get married I was making $3 an hour. Now it's fairly easy to make 10 times that. Minimum wage is creeping up on $15 an hour. At that rate, a part time job is going to pay over $1,000 per month easily. If some kid still lives with his or her parents and the parents pay the insurance (kid should help out, however, IMO) then the kid could afford a $1,000 per month car payment.

[Piotrsko]

But you keep comparing apples and watermelons (which is my point).

A 2 bar prius is like a $500 beater that needs a head gasket. It works, kinda, but you are limited in all kinds ways like range, reliability, cost to repair. Pretty sure you wouldn't take either on a trip across the US in a snowstorm, but I wouldn't bet money on that anymore. Also pretty sure you won't make the 197 recharge miles in a 2 bar but that isn't the point either. BTW: how many kids do you know that have the ability and tools to do a head gasket?

If that's all you can get, you make it work as good as you can, if that best is still inadequate...... I guess you're screwed. Seems to be a lot of screwed people nowadays.